Kenya Theatre Awards 2025: Full list of winners

Actors holding their awards Ariana Kagotho -Best performance by young female actor and Danny Kathungu -best performance by a young male actor during the 4th Kenya Theatre Awards 2025 at the Kenya National theatre in Nairobi on 20th February 2025 [David Gichuru,Standard] The night was ushered in with captivating performances, glamorous outfits, and artists getting feted. Kenya Theatre Awards (KTA) 2025 was held at the Kenya National Theatre on Thursday night to honour this generation of theatre artists and industry icons. Chatterbox's 'Lwanda Otero' shone with 10 awards, Too Early for Birds' 'Tom Mboya' had four awards, together with the feted Best Director that went to Mugambi Nthiga, and Igiza Arts Production took Theatre Company of the Year and two more awards. A new category, 'Jury's Special Award' was introduced this year and it went to 64 Theatre founder Cosmas Bii. Ballet Dancers Performed by Benji Mudondo and Chloe Kimmelman during the 4th Kenya Theatre Awards 2025 at the Kenya National theatre in Nairobi on 20th February 2025 [David Gichuru,Standard] The 2024 KTA Jury Chairperson, Suki Wanza, said that the votes were incredibly many this year with the highest at 1,170 for the Best Storytelling Production category that went to Too Early for Birds. This big number of public votes overturned the Jury vote in three categories. "It was encouraging that all the nominees went out of their way to get people to vote for them. The ones who won did so with a big margin. Some categories however had narrow margins of five or six votes between the winner and the first runners up," Suki notes. "With the interest that has been witnessed with the voting and promotions, we can confidently say that the Kenya Theatre Awards are strongly embraced by the industry," says Wanza. The Jury also pointed out that most of the productions staged in 2024 were original. Below are the winners of the 2025 Kenya Theatre Awards. Best Adaptation 'Lwanda Otero' - Chatterbox -Winner 'Mgonjwa Mwitu' - Nairobi Performing Arts Studio 'In Other Words' - Chemichemi Players 'Sanctuary' - Prevail Presents Limited '1984' - Under Debate Best Breakthrough Female Performer Cynthia Nzuki - 'Legacy' - International Christian Centre Nairobi - Winner Elsie Mumbua - 'The Bride' - Kenyatta University Precious Apidi - 'Guns & Roses' - Son of Man Theatre Productions Mary Favour - 'know Your Scent' - Martina Ayoro Seben Wainaina - 'Daiverse' - Irooto Productions Best Breakthrough Male Performer Sam Ouma - 'The Miser' - Igiza Arts Production - Winner Cosmas Kirui - 'Antigone' - Nairobi Performing Arts Studio Samuel Tirop - 'Oret' - 64 Theatre Hawi Ondego - 'Repeat After Me' - Khalaha Elvis Kiarie - 'Mgonjwa Mwitu' - Nairobi Performing Arts Studio Best Children's Play 'Lion King' - The Banda School - Winner 'Coppellia' - Dance Centre Kenya 'Alladin' - Braeburn Players 'Matilda' - Aga Khan Academy Nairobi Senior School 'The Little Mermaid' - The Academy of Dance And Art Limited Best Costumes Design Mitch Bushry - 'Albatross Wings of Freedom' - Youth Theatre Kenya - Winner Amy Ni Riada - 'Shrek the Musical' - Kenya Amerture Dramatics Kevo Abbra - 'Lwanda Otero' - Chatterbox Heidi Wright & Ansley Garner - 'Sound of Music' - Rosslyn Academy Veronica Kitaka - 'The Little Mermaid' - The Academy of Dance And Art Limited Best Dance Theatre 'Coppellia' - 'Coppellia' - Dance Centre Kenya - Winner 'Messiah is Coming' - 'Messiah is Coming' - Nairobi Lighthouse Church 'The Little Mermaid' - 'The Little Mermaid' - The Academy of Dance And Art Limited 'Ma'adha' - 'Ma'adha' - Jackson Atulo Best Director Mugambi Nthiga - 'Tom Mboya' - Too Early for Birds - Winner Stuart Nash - 'Scrooge'- Nairobi Performing Arts Studio Jazz Moll - 'Albatross Wings of Freedom' - Young Theatre Kenya Nyokabi Macharia - 'Daiverse' - Irooto Productions Santa Mukabanah - 'Sanctuary' - Prevail Presents Limited Best Kikwetu Production 'Theca Nja' - 'Theca Nja' - Andu A Mumbi Production - Winner 'Oret' (Nandi version) - 'Oret' (Nandi version) - 64 Theatre 'Nengera Indo' - 'Nengera Indo' - Mastercut Entertainment 'Naku Amba Eka' - 'Naku Amba Eka' - Heartstrings Entertainment Best Learning Institution (Schools) Braeburn School - Gitanga Road - Winner Woodcreek School The Banda School Aga Khan Academy Rosslyn Academy Best Learning Institution (Universities) Kenyatta University - Winner KCA University University of Nairobi Best Lighting Design Jasper Miedema - 'Shrekk, the Musical' - Kenya Amerture Dramatics - Winner Alacoque Ntome & Charles Wairimu - 'Dedan Kimathi' - Woodcreek School Joanna Garner & Wilfred Onyango - 'Alladin' - Braeburn Players Jazz Moll & Wilfred Onyango - 'Albatross Wings of Freedom' - Youth Theatre Kenya Juliet Duckworth - 'The Little Mermaid' - The Academy of Dance And Art Limited Best Music Score, Arrangement or Adaptation Alice Kimanzi & Niqq Kerah - 'Lwanda Otero' - Chatterbox - Winner International Christian Centre Nairobi - 'Legacy' - International Christian Centre Nairobi Mary Flavour - 'Know Your Scent' - Martina Ayoro Liboi - 'Whispers of Power' - Liboi 'Daiverse' - 'Daiverse' - Irooto Productions Best Musical Theatre Production 'Lwanda Otero' - Chatterbox - Winner Shrekk The Musical - Kenya Amerture Dramatics 'Scrooge' - Nairobi Performing Arts Studio 'Matilda' - Aga Khan Academy Nairobi Senior School 'Legacy' - International Christian Centre Nairobi Best Original Choreography in a Musical/ Play Seth Guya - 'Lwanda Otero' - Chatterbox - Winner Jonah Kamau - 'Legacy' - International Christian Centre Nairobi Rainbow Field - 'Shrekk the Musical' - Kenya Amerture Dramatics Bosco Boro (Aladeen) - 'Scrooge' - Nairobi Performing Arts Studio Copper Rust & Caroline Slot - 'Cats' - Dance Centre Kenya Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Lead Role in a Musical Emma Whithill - 'Shrekk, the Musical' - Kenya Amerture Dramatics - Winner Amy Muthoni - 'Legacy' - International Christian Centre Nairobi Alison Nyawira - 'Lwanda Otero' - Chatterbox Lorna Lemi - 'Sarafina' - Nairobi Performing Arts Studio Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role (Play) Pris Laura Achieng - 'Noisemakers' - Round Wide K - Winner Edna Kariuki - 'An Ideal Husband' - Igiza Arts Production Julisa Rowe - 'In Other Words' - Chemichemi Players Martina Ayoro - 'Know Your Scent' - Martina Ayoro Chadota Ida - 'Repeat After Me' - Khalaha Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Monologue Nyokabi Macharia - 'Tom Mboya' - Too Early for Birds - Winner Chadota Ida - 'When They First Found Me' - 6Gs Production Hellen Keli - 'Elements' - Beyond The Mainstream Muthoni Gatheca - 'Blooms in the Dark' - Creative Garage Njeri Wagakuo - 'Blooms in the Dark' - Creative Garage Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role (Play) Muthoni Gatheca - 'Blooms in the Dark' - Creative Garage - Winner Rotem Yaniv-Cohen - '1984' - Under Debate Joyce Mathenge - 'Hutia Kahaco' - Andu A Mumbi Production Edna Kariuki - 'Severed Justice' - Igiza Arts Production Wakio Mzenge - 'Mgonjwa Mwitu' - Nairobi Performing Arts Studio Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical Auudi Rowa - 'Lwanda Otero' - Chatterbox - Winner Hellen Mtawali - 'Sarafina' - Nairobi Performing Arts Studio Kerry Kagiri - 'Legacy' - International Christian Centre Nairobi Wakio Mzenge - 'Scrooge' - Nairobi Performing Arts Studio Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Lead Role in a Musical Agengo Ogone - 'Lwanda Otero' - Chatterbox - Winner Samson Omondi - 'The Sanhedrin' - Nairobi Chapel Peter Wood - 'Shrekk, the Musical' - Kenya Amerture Dramatics Gadwill Odhiambo - 'Sarafina' - Nairobi Performing Arts Studio Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role (Play) Daniel Hird - '1984' - Under Debate - Winner Sam Psenjen - 'Scrooge' - Nairobi Performing Arts Studio Bilal Wanjau - 'Mgonjwa Mwitu' - Nairobi Performing Arts Studio Charles Gachanja - 'Shadows of the Cloth' - Chisaina Arts Humphrey Maina - 'Theci Noore' - Andu A Mumbi Production Best Male Performance by a Male Actor in a Monologue Ngartia Bryan - 'Daiverse' - Irooto Productions - Winner Elsaphan Njora - 'Tom Mboya' - Too Early for Birds Abu Sense - 'Tom Mboya' - Too Early for Birds Josiah Kiprop Kiptoo - 'Mukabira' - 64 Theatre Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role (Play) Eric Chege - 'Theca Nja' - Andu A Mumbi Production - Winner Cosmas Kirui - 'Antigone' - Nairobi Performing Arts Studio Benson Ochungo - 'Scrooge' - Nairobi Performing Arts Studio Rexie Ndoria - 'Mpaka' - Khweva Baraza Major - 'Backstreet 2' - Millaz Productions Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical Nyakundi Isaboke - 'Lwanda Otero' - Chatterbox - Winner Benson Ochungo - Scrooge' - Nairobi Performing Arts Studio Martin Kigondu - 'Lwanda Otero' - Chatterbox Ephraim Kimani - 'Cats' - Dance Centre Kenya Best Performance by a Young Female Actor Ariana Kagotho - 'Dedan Kimathi' - Woodcreek School - Winner Anvi Singh - 'Matilda' - Aga Khan Academy Nairobi Senior School Martina Haugland - 'Sound of Music' - Rosslyn Academy Leandra Wachai - 'The Taming of the Shrew' - Brookhouse School Ava Stow - 'The Lion King' - The Banda School Best Performance by a Young Male Actor Danny Kathungu - 'Sound of Music' - Rosslyn Academy - Winner Namiri Chiroma - 'Dedan Kimathi' - Woodcreek School Timothy Childs - 'Sound of Music' - Rosslyn Academy Benjamin Telani - 'The Taming of the Shrew' - Brookhouse School Best Playwright - Original Script Martin Abuya - 'Flight 1963' - Igiza Arts Production - Winner Victor Muyekwe - 'Mzigo wa Moto' - Chisaina Arts Mavin Kibicho - 'In Sickness and in Health' - Son of Man Productions Michael Mwangi - 'Repeat After Me' - Khalaha Saumu Kombo - 'Backstreet 2' - Millaz Productions Best Producer Gathoni Kimuyu - Too Early for Birds - Winner Cosmas Bii - 64 Theatre Shiko Ngure & Ciru Njoroge - Irooto Productions Hawi Oguna - Chatterbox Wangui wa Ngina - Andu A Mumbi Production Wreiner Mandu - Igiza Arts Production Best Production 'Lwanda Otero' - Chatterbox - Winner 'Shrekk the Musical' - Kenya Amerture Dramatics 'Tom Mboya' - Too Early for Birds 'Daiverse' - Irooto Productions Best Set Design Nancy Aluoch - 'Dedan Kimathi' - Woodcreek School - Winner Joep Van Binsbergen - 'Coppellia' - Dance Centre Kenya Kate Gardiner & Lee Crew - 'Shrekk, the Musical' - Kenya Amerture Dramatics Joanna Garner & Taryn Bebbington - Alladin - Braeburn Players Arnold Osano - 'Little Mermaid' - The Academy of Dance And Art Best Sound Design Mike Mbugua - 'Lwanda Otero' - Chatterbox - Winner Joanna Garner - 'Alladin' - Braeburn Players Abu Sense - 'Sanctuary' - Prevail Presents Charles Stephen - 'The Love Bomb Edition' - Maina Mind Production Herman Tosh Gitonga - 'Daiverse' - Irooto Productions Best Spoken Word Production 'Daiverse' - Irooto Productions - Winner 'The Love Bomb Edition' - Maina Mind Production 'You Remind me of Someone' - Mufasa & Gufy 'Womine Experience' - Revolutionary Spitter Best Stage Managed Production Mercy Wangui - 'Scrooge' - Nairobi Performing Arts Studio - Winner Kate Gardiner - 'Shrekk, the Musical' - Kenya Amerture Dramatics Mitchell Mulari - 'Coppellia' - Dance Centre Kenya Harlene Singh - 'Alice by Heart' - Braeburn School Chanel Mckenzie - 'Lion King' - The Banda School Best Story-telling Production 'Tom Mboya' - Too Early for Birds - Winner 'When They First Found Me!' - 6Gs Production 'First Draft' - Eric Wainaina Best Two-Hander Production 'In Other Words' - Chemichemi Players - Winner 'Sanctuary' - Prevail Presents Limited 'Shadows of the Cloth' - Chisaina Arts 'Numbers' - Joseph Obel & Esther Kamba 'Loose Ends' - Son of Man Productions Theatre Company of the Year Igiza Arts Production - Winner Heartstrings Entertainment Son of Man Productions Andu A Mumbi Production Nairobi Performing Arts Studio Jury's Special Award - Cosmas Bii World Impact Award - Nairobi Musical Theatre Initiative Lifetime Achievement Award - Trios Gathwe Lifetime Achievement Award (Posthumous) - Anne Wanjugu Ushirika Award - HEVA Fund

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